Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Morning Monitor was the name given the former Sangamo Monitor in 1880. The Sangamo Monitor, founded as a weekly newspaper in 1873, became a daily in 1877, leading to the nw name. See Sangamo Monitor.

Marguerite Beechler Soma (1894-1997) recounted some of her experiences teaching at Ridgely School from 1914 to 1926 to Ridgely students who were researching the school’s history in 1997. See Ridgely Elementary School, 1914-1926.

The Springfield Improvement League, an all-women’s organization founded as a result of the 1914 Springfield Survey, took on a number of initiatives until folding in about 1935. See Newsboys vs. the mayor, 1921.

John B. Inman was the only Sangamon County resident elected (1925-26) national grand commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. See Commemorative plaques, South Old Capitol Plaza.

Eighteen commemorative plaques adorn the parking ramp entrance kiosk on the south Old Capitol Plaza in Springfield. Most date from when today’s Old Capitol State Historic Site served as the Sangamon County Courthouse, and most are in their third location … Continue reading →

Hiram Shumate of Riverton, the last living Sangamon County resident to have served in the Civil War, died on Jan. 1, 1948.

Geneva Casstevens is considered the only woman from Sangamon County to die as the result of service in World War I. Her connection to Sangamon County, however is tenuous. See World War I memorial, First Street and North Grand Avenue, … Continue reading →

The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic sponsored the design and erection of an abstract sculpture depicting praying hands on a small site at First Street and North Grand Avenue in 1966. However, the steel sculpture rusted rapidly … Continue reading →

St. Joseph Parish on Springfield’s north end was the third Catholic parish established in the city. Its original elementary school existed from the 1870s until 1912, and the parish continued educating students until 2012. See Patrick Henry statue, St. Joseph … Continue reading →

Rev. Patrick O’Reilly, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, was the guiding force behind the statue of Patrick Henry that stood above the school entrance for more than 50 years.